Dear resident
I hope you have had an enjoyable summer. Even though the Assembly had its summer recess, August was an equally busy month for me and I’m pleased to have been able to attend a range of events including the National Eisteddfod, which was held in Meifod, and a range of county shows across Montgomeryshire.
It has been particularly rewarding to speak to many of you to gain your views on the issues which matter to you.
I have also organised a meeting with the Director of the Superfast Cymru project which will take place in Newtown later this week. It will be an opportunity for a number of community leaders to quiz BT on the rollout of fibre broadband in Montgomeryshire and I will provide an update on the meeting in my next newsletter.
In the meantime, please find below an update on the issues which I have been working on over the summer and as always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any feedback or would like me to help with anything.
Wind Energy
Mid Wales Public Inquiry
Last week, the UK Government announced the outcome of the conjoined public inquiry which was triggered by the objection of Powys County Council to five separate wind farm applications, plus an application for an overhead line.
All but one of the appeals against the objections of Powys County Council were rejected by the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
I'm fully aware of the different views on this issue, As somebody who has lobbied against the connection project, I of course welcome this decision. It is a victory for local democracy and it is good news for Montgomeryshire. In June 2011, just a few weeks after I was elected as your Assembly Member, thousands of Montgomeryshire people descended on Cardiff Bay to protest against the Welsh Government’s destructive plans.
Both Glyn Davies MP and I are now pursuing confirmation from the National Grid that they will withdraw their proposals for the Mid Wales Connection project.
As somebody who has been heavily involved in the protest movement to stop the connection project, I should feel much happier than I do. But I can't help feeling frustrated that so many millions of pounds have been wasted.
To read the full decision, please visit the DECC website at the following link: https://itportal.decc.gov.uk/EIP/pages/projects/MidWalesPI.htm
Health
When I speak to people across Mid Wales, health is by far the number one priority. Over the last month, the transformation of NHS services in Shropshire has taken a major step forward, and there is a prospect that consultant-led maternity services at Wrexham Maelor Hospital will be withdrawn.
Maternity at Wrexham Maelor
Clearly, many residents in North Powys rely on maternity services from Wrexham Maelor so the possible downgrading and withdrawal of consultant-led maternity services at the hospital is an issue of serious concern. I have written to both the Welsh Government Health Minister, Mark Drakeford, and Powys Teaching Health Board, to ask what representations they have made to Betsi Cadwalader Health Board to ensure that the quality of the maternity provision at Wrexham Maelor will not be compromised. I will also be meeting with Powys Health board to discuss this in detail over then coming weeks.
NHS Future Fit – Shropshire
Last month, the "NHS Future Fit" Board, the group which has been tasked with assessing a range of scenarios for changing emergency, planned and urgent care within Shropshire and Mid Wales, to confront clinical challenges which currently face services provided by the Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust, announced that the development of a new greenfield site for an Emergency Care hospital would be unaffordable.
Overall, while I recognise that reforms are needed, and recognise that change is likely to lead to improved healthcare services in some cases, any reconfiguration still provides a degree of uncertainty.
When I met with Mark Drakeford AM, the Welsh Government Health Minister, alongside healthcare professionals and other local representatives in Meifod last month, I took the opportunity to discuss the Minister’s position on the major reforms which are taking place within Shropshire’s NHS.
I made it clear that it is essential for the Welsh Government to make its view known on the future of emergency and urgent care in Shropshire.
Next month I shall be meeting with a number of Montgomeryshire based GPs and the proposals for change will be the main item for us to discuss.
Montgomeryshire Health Survey
I’ve had an outstanding response so far, which shows just how important this issue is to the people of Montgomeryshire. The survey is available on my website – www.russellgeorge.com/health - so if you haven’t yet completed it, you’re welcome to do so and please spread the word to your family and friends.
You can read my full health update here
Education
Secondary School Reorganisation
The secondary school reorganisation in Powys is a matter of huge importance which could have significant implications for parents, pupils and communities across Powys. It is therefore essential that parents are given ample opportunity to fully participate in the process. I was therefore very concerned at reports from parents at the way in which some of the consultation sessions for the secondary education review have been conducted.
I received several complaints about the unprofessional way in which these sessions have been conducted with some parents left feeling intimidated and unable to ask questions, express their views or participate in the meetings.
This is clearly unacceptable and I made representations to Powys County Council to ensure that this important review was conducted in an open and transparent way.
The consultation is now closed with recommendations expected to go to Powys County Council’s cabinet shortly. I will continue to do all I can to defend our high schools to ensure that every child in our community has the choice to be educated in a local school in the language of their choice.
I will be providing a further update in my next newsletter.
Transport
Newtown Bypass
A public Inquiry was held in Newtown over the summer in regards to the Newtown Bypass. We are currently awaiting on the Inspector to report his findings.
The Welsh Government and the contractors are anticipating to start construction work later this year.
Dyfi Bridge
I welcome progress on improvements to the A487 at Dyfi Bridge. For many years, I have called on the Welsh Government to make progress on this project and I’m pleased that work will finally proceed, improving safety and travel times on this main arterial route from North to South Wales.
Construction work is expected to begin next year.
Rural Affairs
Standing up for Rural Wales
Living and working in our beautiful rural communities is both a great privilege and a great challenge. In an effort to tackle some of the challenges which face rural communities, I launched a detailed document at the Royal Welsh Show in July, with the empowerment of rural communities at its core. You can read more about these plans to support rural communities, ensure our farming industry gets the help it needs and how we would put decision making back in the hands of local people here.
Communities
Barclays - Llanidloes
I have recently gained agreement from Barclays’ Head of Corporate Relations to meet to discuss the bank’s decision to change the opening hours at its Llanidloes branch from the end of November.
The branch is currently open every weekday from 10am – 4pm but from Monday 30th November, Barclays intends to reduce its opening hours to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only.
I was disappointed that the bank did not feel they could discuss this matter with me before making the announcement. Any reduction in the opening hours of the Barclays branch in Llanidloes would have a detrimental effect on residents and businesses in the town who have already seen the loss of the HSBC and NatWest branches.
This is another big blow to Llanidloes and I will be meeting the bank’s management later this month to seek reassurances on on-going provision.
Supporting our High Streets
I believe that Powys County Council should introduce more flexible parking to encourage shoppers into the county’s town centres.
I want to see bustling high streets, thriving local businesses and positive community engagement. To achieve this, we need to think of ways in which local high street businesses can compete and remain relevant in the 21st Century.
High streets need to compete with the rise of the internet and out-of-town shopping centres which pose significant threats to the high street as we know it.
We therefore need to be a lot more innovative in our thinking if we are to reverse the decline of our town centres.
Free parking, business rates reform and simplified planning, these are just some of the additional proposals which I believe will support small businesses across Montgomeryshire.
Keep Wales Tidy Litter Champions
I was pleased to have been able to meet with the dedicated volunteers who help keep Montgomeryshire clean and tidy.
It is fantastic news that Montgomeryshire now has fifty Keep Wales Tidy Litter Champions. This is the highest number outside Cardiff which is a fact to be celebrated!
I would encourage anyone who has an interest in their local environment to get involved in what can be a very satisfying and rewarding way of volunteering in your community. Please contact Sue Newham by emailing [email protected] if you would like to know more.
Help for Families Fleeing war torn Countries
There has been a massive influx of people fleeing from war torn countries. I'm currently supporting a local team who are driving two large vehicles to the Austrian/ Hungarian border to hand out aid. If you feel you could support by supplying any of the following items, please bring them to my Newtown or Welshpool office before 25th September:
- Toiletries - toothpaste, soap, nappies
- Food - baby food, non perishable food
- Children's medication - Calpol, Sudocrem
- Clothes - waterproof items, boots, children and adult clothing (washed and ready to go)
- Miscellaneous (old items) - Tents, sleeping bags, blankets
Surgeries
Please contact my office on 01686 610887 to book an appointment at one of the following advice surgeries.
In addition to the surgery dates below, you can also call my office to make an appointment in my Newtown or Welshpool office.
- Monday 21 September: 10am – 12pm - Welshpool Livestock market
- Monday 28 September: 10am – 12pm - Newtown - 13 Parker’s Lane
- Friday 02 October: 12.30pm – 1.30pm - Llanidloes
- Saturday 10 October : 10am – 12pm - Crew Green & Bausley
- Saturday 24 October: 10am – 12pm - Four Crosses